VI. Patterns of Violence Abductions and Killings in Mashonaland East and Harare Human Rights Watch interviewed several victims and eyewitnesses around the country who implicated ZANU-PF supporters, “war veterans,” CIO agents and soldiers in the abduction of scores of known MDC activists. Victims of the abductions informed Human Rights Watch that they were taken to military bases or “war veteran” bases and camps where suspected ZANU-PF supporters, “war veterans” and soldiers beat and tortured them, including by mutilation. Other victims reported that the perpetrators would take them into the bush or deep into the hills and mountains of the countryside, and beat and torture them before leaving them for dead. The abductions have taken an even more disturbing turn with at least five incidents of abductions and killings of known MDC activists recorded in May. In one particularly horrifying incident, at least 12 suspected ZANU-PF supporters abducted, beat, tortured and murdered three MDC activists on May 7. Human Rights Watch interviewed witnesses and relatives of the dead men who said that ZANU-PF supporters ambushed the car of four MDC activists as they were driving to Murehwa in Mashonaland East. One escaped, but Beta Chokururama, Godfrey Kauzani and Cain Nyevhe were pulled from the car and taken away. Chokururama’s body was found on May 11 in a river in Murehwa, while the bodies of Kauzani and Nyevhe were found some kilometers away in Goromonzi district on May 17. The eyes of the victims had been gouged out, and their tongues and lips cut off.56 Human Rights Watch spoke to medical doctors who confirmed that the men were beaten and tortured.57 On May 21, the body of another MDC activist, Tonderai Ndira, was discovered at a mortuary in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare. According to relatives who spoke to Human Rights Watch and witnessed the abduction, in the early hours of May 14, 10 56 Human Rights Watch interviews with relatives of the three dead men, Harare, May 17, 2008. 57 Human Rights Watch interviews with doctors, Harare, May 17, 2008. 29 Human Rights Watch 2008